Hardwick PC Questions and Answers 1 What are the proposed routes for the busway ? In October 2016 the Greater Cambridge City Deal Board decided, in principle, that a segregated route between Cambourne and Cambridge, with a Park & Ride near the Madingley Mulch roundabout, best met the strategic objectives of the scheme. They instructed officers to look for specific route alignments within Catchment Area 3a ,with Catchment Area 3 as an alternative if (but only if) Option 3a proves unviable (see catchment Area plan). The Working Plans (see link to webpage) illustrate some of the possible specific alignments for the routes. No decision has been made on the recommended option or an exact route and we have been instructed to investigate some alternative routes and options for the scheme, such as a Park & Ride site at Scotland Farm and an on-road route along the A1303 and Madingley Road. The assessment includes workshops and meeting with The Local Liaison Forum, Parish Councils in addition to other consultees and stakeholder. We will be reporting all our findings back to the Executive Board by July, where a decision will be made on the next steps for the project. 2 How will the routes affect Hardwick ? All of the options are likely have some effects in different ways on Hardwick. The aim of our ongoing assessment is to ensure that the environmental implications of decisions of the scheme development process are fully understood and appropriately managed and mitigated. For example as Option 3 would include new, offline sections, where there may be effects to households that were previously not exposed to the levels of noise, air quality and potential impacts associated with bus services running close-by. Design measures can be taken to reduce or avoid effects. In some instances environmental enhancements may result e.g. the creation of new or better landscape and ecological habitats. The overall approach to the design measures will be defined by local and national policy and guidance. We will ensure that design approaches that ensure that new infrastructure integrates into the existing landscape and urban realm and protects the continuity and character of open space and green belt. The Design Criteria will consider the following issues: I. Location of infrastructure – respecting the urban and rural context for example through assessing proximity to and the relationship with the existing built up areas II. A specific route alignment assessment to test accessibility from the start to the end of journeys through the centres of employment (e.g. Cambridge West) and housing (e.g. Bourn) and the environmental effects with a view to integrating with existing infrastructure and minimising impacts III. Siting – positioning of infrastructure to minimise visual intrusion on the existing landscape through considering issues such as ground levels, slopes and other natural features and also minimising impact on important features such as ecological and heritage assets IV. Design – the materials, features and introduced landscaping that will form the new infrastructure and achieve high quality design, minimising environmental impacts consistent with delivering the scheme’s objectives, and integration with existing infrastructure and the ends of the route and along it. 3 Will there be a stop in Hardwick There would be a high quality busway stop servicing Hardwick. 4 Will the Citi 4 schedule be affected ? 5 Will the Citi 4 be cancelled ? 6 Could the Citi 4 be re routed to include Caldecote and Hardwick villages to enable villagers more access to buses? Whilst bus services on the existing highway are a matter for individual operators and are provided subject to commercial demand the City Deal partnership will seek through discussions with the bus operators to minimise where practicable any potential for adverse impact on existing commercial bus services. The busway as high quality public transport service promoted by the City Deal partnership will provide a fast, frequent and reliable on dedicated infrastructure distinct from the existing highway. By way of agreement with the bus operators who wish to use the system the highest possible standards for the travelling public will be sought. 7. How many buses will there be an hour ? The high quality public transport service patterns on the busway would be identified by the service operators in conjunction with the scheme sponsors, The City Deal partnership. For the purposes of assessment, assumptions have been made with regard to the likely service frequencies and journey times. These assumptions are based on the outputs from the early strategic modelling for the Strategic Outline Business Case, which for Option 3 is currently assumed at 9 per hour. This figure will be tested and evaluated further as the business case is developed. 8 If Cambourne builds another 2,300 houses how many more buses will there be an hour ? The assumption of development is contained within the modelling undertaken and is consistent with, The Transport Strategy for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire (TSCSC), prepared in parallel with the Submitted Local Plans, which was adopted by Cambridgeshire County Council in March 2014. The strategy provides a plan to manage the rising population and increase in demand on the travel network by shifting people from cars to other means of travel including cycling, walking and public transport It envisages a range of infrastructure interventions on the St.Neots and Cambourne to Cambridge corridor as a key part of the integrated land use and transport strategy, responding to the levels of planned growth. The TSCSC focus of high quality public transport intervention along the corridor is busway/ High Quality Public Transport Infrastructure5. Its requirements are reflected in the Long Term Transport Strategy, which forms part of the LTP. Policies in the Submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan reflect this, requiring high quality segregated public transport improvements between the A428 /A1303 junction and inner ring road, and measures to 9 What type of engines will the buses have ? The buses introduced for use on the busway would be at least Euro 6 emission standards or higher. The scheme may provide an opportunity to introduce hybrid buses with electric running as part of the high quality public transport it seeks to promote. As a consequence the scheme could potentially provide an improvement in the air quality of the areas of highest sensitivity. 10. How noisy will the buses be ? The latest standard Euro 6 bus engines offer increased efficiency of engines with reduced noise. The potential for electric motors would further reduce noise. It is anticipated that the buses using the proposed busway would exhibit less noise that those on the existing Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. 11How much pollution will there be from the busway? The operational effects all buses using the bus way would be subject to a minimum vehicle quality thresholds which they would need to meet or exceed. One of these thresholds would relate to the need for the buses to have at least the latest Euro 6 emission standard engines. 12.What type of pollution and sound barriers are proposed between the houses on St. Neots road and the A428 if the current trees and fencing are removed to make way for a bus way? The current noise fencing between on St. Neots road and the A428 Truck Road would remain as part of the proposed busway scheme. The removal of vegetation which is not considered noise attenuation itself, would need to be considered as part of the overall noise assessment of the proposed scheme. With regard to concerns about air quality and noise as a result of the construction and operation of the bus way these are matters that would need to be taken into formal account as part of the application for planning consent for the proposed scheme, as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment. Where impacts are likely to occur as a result of the scheme these must be avoided, mitigated or compensated. 13What safety barrier will there be between the bus way and the current road to stop vehicles using the busway? The means to segregate the busway from the existing highway would be similar to those used on the existing Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. These include concrete car traps at junctions and entrances to the guideway 14Would there be any speed restrictions/calming, if yes what? If using the existing corridor of the for Option 3A that is the old St Neots road it is assumed that the land use to provide the busway will where possible be taken from the within the existing highway. As a result this will introduce the need to carry out works within the exiting highway in order to give priority to public transport over through traffic while ensuring ongoing access to residents and business. These measures might include the following: • Improved gateway features on the approach to Hardwick. Highlighting speed limit and entry into a village environment to encourage reduced speed. • Landscaping to reduce the openness of the route and visually reduce the width of the corridor. • Provision of traffic islands within centre of the carriageway to encourage reduced speed, with speed limit repeater markings. • Provision of central hatch and edge line road markings along the carriageway to visually reduce the carriageway width. The introduction of these types of measures as part of the delivery of the busway would reduce the attractiveness of through route from proposed Bourn development and encourage the use of the high-quality public transport busway as a better alternative to the car. 15 Would the busway be lit ? The Park and Ride site and stops will be lit for safety and security reasons. All stops will be lit with modern energy efficient lighting to provide a safe environment for busway users.